Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein: The Musical

'War Paint', Lindy Woodhead's biography on the two queens of the beauty industry, is to be made into a Broadway musical.

BY Phong Luu |
14 March 2012

Elizabeth Arden (left) and Helena Rubinstein Photo: Rex

Not content with ITV snapping up
Shopping, Seduction & Mr Selfridge
, her biography of Harry Gordon Selfridge for a 10-part, post-
Downton
series, former PR-turned author Lindy Woodhead's first book,
War Paint
, the history charting the rivalry between Helena Rubinstein and Elizaebth Arden, queens of the beauty industry, has been optioned as a Broadway musical.

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War Paint
made for a deliciously catty read when it was first published in the early Noughties. Soon, it will make for a deliciously catty sing-song - unless the producers turn chicken at the last minute and decide to book Jennifer Aniston and Miley Cyrus to play Rubinstein and Arden. That shouldn't happen, though. The scribes behind
Grey Gardens
, the musical (inspired by the mesmerising documentary feature film about the eccentric aunt and cousin of Jackie Kennedy), are writing the script, based on Woodhead's book. Be prepared for tantrums and tears, but no mascaras smudges, naturally - Rubinstein invented the world's first waterproof mascara in 1939.